>>6144029>GuliseareThough a wide-ranging effort is embarked upon, in all the lands of Guiliseare the greenish gold metal is found only in the mountainous province of its discovery. It is fortunate, then, that the metal’s native resting place abounds with the stuff. Among the deposits in the region, a particularly abundant vein of orichalcum is opened up, improving supplies of the metal further. It is still a luxury, to be sure, but now one that can find use in more than just trinkets for the nobility.
Measurements of the orichalcum reveal that the properties of the metal are directly related to the minimum depth of the patina, and therefore the thickness of cast orichalcum determines its maximum power. Left undisturbed, the patina continues to slowly penetrate through the whole of the metal until a sufficiently massive piece is not just weightless, but actively buoyant. As for strength, the metal is found to be somewhat harder than brass, no match for bronze or even a finer cast iron when making blades, but sufficient enough for armor given its other properties. The key weakness is the fragility of the patina upon which the Holy Metal depends for its buoyant properties. A deep scratch by a careless claw--or enemy arrow--can restore at a blow the whole of the metal’s weight, turning a light-as-air breastplate into a lethal encumbrance.
>>6144435>VizariThe mines are rebuilt, the dead repatriated or sent for reuse. A bizarre phenomenon does seize some of the workers in the mines though, dreams of fragments of a complex ritual that would sink the southern mine deep into the ocean never to be recovered. Clearly just a mix of paranoia and cave madness. An extra contingent of golems is sent along to pump fresher air into the mines just in case some sea fungus has set up roots.
It is a long hard tyrn for Alpha. Stretched thin by leveraging his assets in the northern war he returns to the capital just in time to watch Vizari merchant vessels burn in the harbor. Forced into hiding and cut off from Vizari contacts and resources the future is looking grim for the traitor shark.
